PUB00004

• Year: 2003
• Title: Gunnison Basin Water: No Panacea for the Front Range
• CWCB Section: Administration
• Author: Land and Water Fund
• Description: Gunnison Basin Water: No Panacea for the Front Range
• Publications - Doc Type: Other

End Notes

e

13 1991 Water Court Opinion, at 33, p3.

14 When possed in 1956, Colorado River Storege Project Act ("CRSPA") purposes included:

. Regulating the flow of the Colorado River;
* Storing water for beneficial consumptive use;
* Making it possible for the states of the Upper Basin to utilize the apportionments made to them in the
Colorado River Compact and the Upper Colorado River Compact;
* Providing for reclamation of arid and semi-arid lands;
. Controlling floods;
* Generating Hydroelectricity as an incident of the foregoing purposes.

See 43 U.S.c. g 620. Section 6201g) directs the Secretary to operate and maintain CRSPA facilities to miti-
gate the loss of and improve the conditions for fish and wildlife and to provide recreational facilities.

15 See 43 U.S.c. gg 1501-1556.

16 See March 30, 1960 decree issued in Cese No. 6981 Ifor rights in farmer Water District No. 62),
January 27, 1961 decree issued in Case No. 5590 (for water rights in former Water District No. 59);
December 15, 1961 decree issued in Case No. 5591 (for rights in former Water District No. 28). The
District filed for these rights because,. at the time, the United States did not recognize the state Water Court's
authority to determine federal water rights. See Colorado Water Division No.4, Case No. 88-CW-178,
Findings of Fact, Conclusions of lew, and Judgment & Decree in re: Application for Water Rights by the
Board of County Commissioners for Arapahoe County for the Union Park Reservoir Project: Phase I on Water
Availability Ihereinaher "1998 Water Court Opinion") IApril6, 1998), et 35-36, ~83.

17 Authorizetion for the Exchange Agreement came from the 1968 Colorado River Basin Project Act and the
Recreation Project Act of 1965. Signatories included the River District, Gunnison District, UVWUA, and the
United States.

18 Drah Management Plan, at 4-20.

19!!L et 2-3

20 District boundaries include lands adjoining the Gunnison and its tributaries down to Blue Mesa Dam.

21 See Helton & Williamsen, "Engineering to Support Upper Gunnison Plan for Augmentation." Uune 1,
2001 DRAFT), at 2 & Table 1. The Helton & Williamson report studied diversions and consumptive use in
the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District durin9 the years 1990 to 1997, inclusive. By com-
parison, the Drah Management Plen found that for the years 1990-2000, diversions evereged 589,000
AFA. See Drah Management Plan at 3-2.

22 Drah Management Plan, Executive Summary, at 2. One lacal resident notes, however, that irrigated
acres reported for property taxation vary but are about one-third less than the 60,000+ acres frequently esti-
mated. Correspondence from Ralph E. Clark, III Uan. 11, 2002).

23 Draft Management Plan, Executive Summary, at 2-3.

24 !!L at 2.

Gunnison Basin Water

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